Elmira Enforcers Members Not to Be Charged in December IncidentNo charges will be filed against members of the Elmira Enforcers for an incident in Horseheads last year according to the Chemung County District Attorney. Last night, a report was released, saying a member of the Elmira Enforcers team acted in self defense after being threatened by an intoxicated man last month on December 17th. Robbie Nichols, owner of the Enforcers says they are sorry the incident happened and do not condone violence, adding: "Our team is supposed to be doing good every day. If there's anywhere we can help out and be involved, that is what we are about."

Rochester Woman Plead Guilty to Selling Drugs in Greenwood ODA Rochester woman plead guilty yesterday to Criminally Negligent Homicide for her involvement in an overdose death of a Greenwood man in August of 2017. On August 21, 2017 the body of Dana Crittendon was discovered at his home and it was found he died from an overdose of fentanyl-laced heroin. Further investigation found Rochester woman Nancy Alvarez identified as the dealer of the tainted heroin. During her plea yesterday, Alvarez admitted to Hon. Patrick McAllister that she sold the drugs to Crittendon that caused his death. Alvarez was remanded to Steuben County Jail without bail and will face the maximum sentence of up to 4 years in state prison when she is sentenced next month on February 7th.

Bath Village Board Sets Public Hearing on Municipal Utilities PlanThe Bath village board has scheduled a public hearing for later this month. Trustee’s will accept comments on a plan to authorize the Director of Municipal Utilities to utilize funds from the Sewer repair Account to capitalize labor for repairs to the village Wastewater Treament Plant. That hearing will be held January 22 at the Village Hall.

Hearing Set on 1/17 for Prattsburgh’s Large Gathering ProposalThe town of Prattsburgh is considering implementing a new local law, but first it needs to hear from residents. The proposed legislation will adopt regulations for large gatherings of more than 300 people. The hearing will be held January 17th at 7:05 p.m. at the Town Hall.

NYS Legislative Session Begins with Election and Voter ReformNew York State Senate and Assembly members will begin this year’s new legislation session with the approval of bills that promote early voting and easier voter registration as part of a package of election and voting reform bills to update the state’s voting laws. One of the laws would allow advance voting where voters can cast a ballot at their polling place up to ten days before the election day. Another piece of legislation would consolidate state and federal primary elections, replacing the multiple primaries into a single election in June while another bill proposes 16 and 17 year olds to be pre-registered as they sign up for their driver’s permit to be automatically registered when they turn 18. New York State was in the top 10 worst states for turnout in the 2016 and 2018 elections and the new voting reform package seeks to end this decade-long pattern of low voter turnout.

Episcopal Church Approves Same Sex Marriage PracticesYesterday same-sex marriages in an upstate New York diocese were approved by the The Episcopal Church after a bishop denied practicing same-sex marriages in the Albany-area Episcopal Diocese. The Reverend William Love could face disciplinary action for coming in the way of same-sex marriages, which he directively barred two months back in November. That month, Love wrote an eight-page letter claiming: “The Episcopal Church and Western Society have been hijacked by the ‘Gay Rights Agenda,’ which is very well organized, very strategic, very well financed, and very powerful.” According to activists, Love is the only bishop in the U.S. refusing to comply entirely with the updated resolution made to the church back in December that gave bishops that object theologically with the practice of same-sex marriage the option to have another bishop perform and oversee the marriage services.